Ceiling suspension element



Oc 25, 1960 L. L. MCNAIR 2,957,279

CEILING SUSPENSQION ELEMENT Filed March 18, 1957 INVENTOR Lloyd MQNoirATTORNEY United States Patent O 2,951,279 CEILING SUSPENSION ELEMENTLloyd L. McNair, 214 w. 901 St., Dallas, Tex.

Filed Mar. 18, 1951, Set. No. 646,738

1 Claim. c1. 50-468) This invention relates to a ceiling suspensionelement, and it concerns more particularly a device capable of beingembedded in a concrete structure, such as an upper floor of a building,for use in suspending a ceiling, pipe or fixture therefrom.

An object of the invention is to provide a device for use with concreteor other ceilings, and by means of which suspension bars or rods formetal lath or other ceiling material may be quickly and economicallyapplied.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the typedescribed in which the suspending means for the rods or bars are soarranged that, when the forms for the concrete have been removed, nocavities will show or be left in the ceiling until such time that thedevice is utilized, when the exposed bottom surface is removed with aknife or other instrument, whereupon the suspending means will drop downinto position to immediately receive the rods or bars.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a device whichincludes a piece of bent wire having a straight intermediate portionwhich, in its applied position, extends horizontally across acylindrical cavity molded in the underside of the adjacent concretestructure and having a pair of upwardly and outwardly bent end portionswhich, in their applied positions, are embedded in the concrete andadvantageously may be sup ported upon the reenforcing rods, and whichalso includes a loop of wire which loosely surrounds the intermediateportion of the first mentioned wire and is movable vertically as well ashorizontally with respect thereto, the arrangement being such that theloop is suspended from the first mentioned wire when in its lowermostposition and provides a support for the rods or bars comprising theceiling material which is capable of being adjusted in any desiredposition.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device whichcomprises, in combination with a piece of bent wire and a wire loop asabove described, a cylinder having a removable cover and preferablyformed of soft plastic material capable of being cut with a knife, thecylinder and its cover, in their applied positions, forming a mold forthe cavity formed in the under side of the concrete structure and alsoas a container which encloses the wire loop and the intermediate portionof the first mentioned wire and is capable of maintaining them inpredetermined position relative to each other and with respect to theconcrete structure so that the device may be conveniently handled as asingle unit, and optionally, a nail positioned axially with respect tothe cylinder and extending through the end of the cylinder and itscover, for use in securing the device to a form preparatory to moldingthe concrete structure around it.

The invention will be readily understood by referring to the followingdescription and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a device embodying the invention ininverted position;

' Fig. 1;

Patented Oct. 25, 1960 ice Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing a pairof such devices as applied to a form for a concrete structurepreparatory to molding the concrete;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the concrete structure, with thedevices embedded therein, before removing a the form;

{for engagement with the bars or rods supporting the ceiling;.and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, sectional, elevational vlew,

taken on a median line, of the device as shown in Fig. 6.

Referring to Figs. 1 and2 of the drawing, the device of the inventionincludes a piece of bent wire 1 having a straight middle portion 2, apair of intermediate portions 3 which are bent substantially at rightangles to the middle portion 2, and a pair of end portions 4 which arebent obliquely outwardly from the intermediate portions 3, the severalportions 2, 3 and 4 lying in a common plane.

A wire loop 5 loosely surrounds the middle portion 2 of the wire 1 and alength of suspension wire 5' can be attached thereto, as shown in Fig.6. The wire loop 5 and the middle portion 2 of the wire 1 are receivedbodily within a cylinder 6, which has a friction type cover 7. Thecylinder 6 and the cover 7 preferably are made of soft plastic materialcapable of being cut with a knife, and have mutually aligned notches 8and 9 formed in the adjacent edges thereof for engagement by theprotruding intermediate portions 3 and end portions 4 of the wire 1. Thecover 7 serves to seal ofI all concrete and grout from the cylinder 6and its enclosed parts, and provides a compact and economical unit.

The length of the middle portion 2 of the wire 1 advantageously may besuch that when the intermediate portions 3 and the end portions 4 areswung pivotally about the middle portion 2, the intermediate portions 3bind against the adjacent surfaces of the cylinder 6, whereby the wire 1is maintained in the position shown in Fig. l. The adjacent surfaces ofthe cylinder 6 may be notched for engagement with the intermediateportions 3 if desired, or alternatively, outwardly extending lugs 10 maybe formed on the cylinder 6.

A nail 11, which is aligned axially with the cylinder 6, extends throughthe end of the cylinder 6 and its cover 7, the point of the nail 11extending outwardly beyond the cover 7 and the head of the nail -11being positioned adjacent the opposite end of the cylinder 6, which isclosed.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing, a pair of devices embodyingthe invention, as above described, are shown attached to the deckingboards 12, which with the side board 13 form a concrete structure 15.

Fig. 5 shows the concrete structure 15 with the boards 12, 13 removed,leaving the cover 7 exposed and the nail 11 protruding downwardly belowthe concrete structure 15.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the center portion of the cover 7 has beencut away, so that the wire loop 5 drops below the concrete structure 15for engagement with the bars or rods (not shown) which support theceiling. The point of the nail 11 has been cutoff.

The invention may be modified in various ways without departing from thespirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

Ceiling suspension means, capable of being embedded in a concretestructure for use in suspending a ceiling therefrom, comprising a 'pieceof bent wire having a straight first intermediate portion which, in itsapplied position, extends horizontally across a cylindrical cavitymolded in the underside of anadjacent concretestruc- 'ture, and having apair of second intermediate portions adjoining the first intermediateportion, on opposite sides thereof, and bent substantially at rightangles thereto,

and a pair of end portions adjoining the respective second intermediateportions and bent obliquely outwardly therefrom, the several portionslying in a common plane and .the second intermediate portions and theend portions,

- intermediate portion of the first mentioned wire extending through it,the cylinder and the cover having mutually aligned notches in theiradjacent edges through which the first intermediate portion of the firstmentioned wire is passed, the second intermediate portions and the endportions of the first mention wire being positioned exteriorly of thecylinder, the length of the first intermediate portion of the firstmentioned wire being such a 4 that when the second intermediate portionsand the end portions thereof are swung pivotally about the firstintermediate portion the second intermediate portions bind against theadjacent sides of the cylinder, abutments carried by the cylinder foryieldable engagement with the second intermediate portions of the firstmentioned wire to restrain them against being swung pivotally about thefirst intermediate portion thereof, and a nail positioned near thecenter of the cylinder and extending throughthe end of the cylinder, andthrough its cover, for use in securing the device to a form preparatoryto molding the concrete structure around it.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS643,108 Campbell Feb. 13, 1900 1,206,601 Schramm Nov. 28, 1916 1,266,128Kelly r May 14, 1918 1,455,036 White May 15, 1923 1,474,956 Della Nov.20, 1923 1,503,572 White Aug. 5, 1924 1,684,605 Techmer -4..- Sept. 18,1928 1,760,025 Venzie May 27, 1930 1,776,656 Frederickson Sept. 23, 19302,038,291 Hooley Apr 21, 1936 2,108,107 De Wees Feb. 15, 1938 2,181,740Reiland Nov. 28, 1939 2,277,449 ,Paine Mar. 24, 1942 2,495,584 Hook Jan.24, 1950

